It Doesn’t
Hurt to

Save a Life

How Donation Really Works.

It Doesn’t
Hurt to

Save a Life

How Donation Really Works.

To register you’ll just need to provide a tissue sample using a cheek swab. We’ll then send this off to see what your tissue type is.

If your tissue type matches with someone you can help, you’ll either donate blood stem cells or bone marrow.

90% of the time donations are blood stem cell donations which are just like giving blood, except it’s done in hospitals in major cities around Australia as an outpatient procedure.

10% of donors are asked to donate bone marrow and usually it is for a child. Bone marrow is taken from the back of your hip in a short procedure performed under general anaesthetic, so you won’t feel a thing!

YOUR STEM CELLS ARE BORED

It doesn’t hurt to help. Bone marrow and stem cell donation methods have evolved since the 1940’s. Find out what it’s really like to donate here:

Age isn’t just a number

When it comes to bone marrow and blood stem cell donations, physicians prefer donors 18 to 30 years old because research shows that patients do better with younger donors. Gender is also important as physicians tend to select males over females to avoid logistical issues that may arise if a donor is pregnant or breastfeeding. Males are often larger than females and are able to donate more stem cells which is also better for patients.

The Background on Blood Cancer

Blood cancer is an umbrella term for cancers that affect the blood, bone marrow and lymphatic system. In most blood cancers, normal blood cell development is interrupted by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal blood cells. The abnormal blood cells can prevent blood from fighting off an infection or preventing uncontrolled bleeding.

Unfortunately, blood cancer can strike any one of us at any time.

There are three main types of blood cancers: Leukaemia, cancer that is found in your blood and bone marrow; Lymphoma, blood cancer that affects the lymphatic system; and Myeloma, blood cancer that specifically targets your plasma cells.

Transplant is also used to treat patients with certain immune system and genetic disorders.

Our UK equivalent registry, Anthony Nolan, have put together some great videos explaining blood cancers and blood disorders. Have a look to learn more: